Improvement in annunciators



3Sheets--Sheet1.

C; H. GR EENLEAF;

Improvement in Ahnunciators.

Patented July 9,1872.

AM. nmrv-un'maurm 00. M Y. (way/ E's PROCESS) 3 Sheets--Sheet 2.-

C. H. GREENLEAF. Improvement in Annunciators.

Patented July 9, 1872.

3 Sheets--Sheet 3 ,0. H. GREENLEAF. improvement in Annunciators.

v Patentd July 9,1872.

Mia/4% Eu/mad??? 1 1M. PHUTd 'LITHUGRIPHIO 00, M Y. [OSBFRNE'S F/WGESSJ proved annunciator.

UNITED STATES CHARLES H. GREENLEAF, OF ERANcoNIA, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

IMPROVEMENT IN ANNUNCIATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 128,724, dated July- 9, 1872.

To all whom'tt may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. GREEN- LEAF, of Franconia, in the county of Grafton and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain Improvements in Annunciators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making part of this specification, in which--- a Figure l is a perspective view of my im- Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the back of the dial-plate of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the annunciator. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line as w of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective View representing the manner in which the cranks are placed on the rocker-shaft; Fig. 6, detail in perspective.

My invention consists in a series of plates hinged to the dial, and covering the figures thereon denoting the numbers ofthe rooms, each platebeing operated to expose its figure by the thrust of a rod or wire connected with the mechanism which gives the alarm; and my invention also consists in a sliding frame at the back of the dial, provided with cross-bars which act upon the rear portions of the covering-plates to return them to their normal position to conceal the figures from view, the sliding frame being operated by a lever or other device placed in an accessible position. My invention also consists in a series of bell-cranks operated by wires leading from the rooms, and so placed on a rocker-shaft connected with the mechanism for givingthe alarm that each crank will rock the shaft independently of and without moving any other crank. Myinvention also consists in a dial entirely detached from the mechanism which exposes the figures, in order that it may be easily removed from its frame, if desired, without disturbing the said mechanism.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the. manner in which I have carried it out. I

In the said drawing, A is the casin g of the annunciator, to the front of which is secured a frame, B, for the reception of another frame, 0, containing the dial D, provided with a series of figures for denoting the numbers of the apartments and a corresponding number of square openings, a, for a purpose to be described. Each number on the dial and the opening a corresponding thereto are covered by a small sheet-metal plate, b, hinged to the dial, the lower portion 10 of each plate being bent and passing through a narrow slit, 0, and terminating in a bent arm, d, the outer end of which is weighted sufficiently to retain the covering-plate bin an upright position to conceal its number; 0 f are two series of bell-cranks placed upon two horizontal rocker-shafts, E F, having their bearings in the casing A, and situated one above the other. To each of these cranks, at 11, is secured one end of a wire, g, leading to one of the rooms of the hotel or other building, and to each crank, at 12, is secured one end of a red, It, the other end of which passes through a guide, 13, secured to a vertical post, G, and is in line with'the center of one of the openings or in the dial covered by one of the plates 11. When the wire g of a room is pulled by the occupant its bell-crank is vibrated, which carries its rod It forward and thrusts its outer end through its opening a and in contact with the inner surface of its covering-plate b, which is thus thrown down to expose the number of the room corresponding to the wire pulled, as seen in Fig. 1. Simultane ously with the throwing down of each covering-plate b an alarm is given (in a manner to be presently described) to call the attention of the attendant, immediately after which the exposed number is again covered by its plate, which is thrown up by mechanism now to be described. H is a movable rectangular frame, attached to the back of the dial D by pinsipassing through slots k, and provided with heads. This frame H is drawn down against the resistance of springs Z by a lever, I, pivoted to the under side of the frame 0, the outer end of the lever projecting in'front thereof into a convenient position to be operated by the attendant, while the inner end of the lever is connected with the bottom of the frame H by a link, m. K K are two vertical barsparallel to each other, the ends of which pass over pins a projecting from the top and bottom of the frame H, the bars being free to yield against the resistance of spiral springs 15 surrounding the pins at. These bars, which are formed of strips of metal bent or doubled over, are notched or provided with projections 0, which, when the frame H is depressed, are brought into contact with and pass over pieces 1) at the backs of the covering-plates when they are down,

thereby bringing them up into their normal position, where they are retained by their weighted arms (1 against the dial, to conceal the numbers which may be exposed, by which construction one or any number of the plates 1) may be instantly thrown up by a single movement of the lever I, as required. As the projections 0 pass over the pieces 19 the bars K are allowed, by their springs, to yield slightly to allow of one covering-plate being thrown down while another covering-plate is being brought up by the movement of the lever I.

I will now describe how the vibration ofeach crank is caused to give the alarm.

Each of the bell-cranks e f is placed loosely and independently on its rocker-shaft, and is provided with a shoulder, 16, which bears against a pin, 17, projecting from the rockershaft, and thus, when a crank is vibrated, its shaft is rocked without moving or affecting any of the other cranks thereon.

The rocker-shafts E F are provided with arms L M, which are connected by rods q r to a lever, N, which operates the mechanism for striking a hell, 0, by which construction the vibration of either shaft, E or F, will give the required alarm. A spiral spring, .9, is employed for returning the rear end of each crank to its original position upon or against a transverse rod or stop, P.

My improved annunciator presents the following advantages, viz: It is of exceedingly simple construction, and can consequently be furnished at much less cost than the ordinary annuneiators now in use. It is not liable to get out of order, but should repairs be required they can be made by an ordinary mechanic, as

the dial, being entirely disconnected from themechanism which exposes the number, can readily be removed without disarranging any of the parts, which was not practicable with the old construction.

of the loss of motion, while no extra amount of motion of the rods h will in any way injure the mechanism. The mechanism of each number is entirely separate and independent of that connected with any other number, and the covering-plate of one can be thrown up at the same time another isbeing uncovered without interference.

The covering-plates, when arranged and hinged as above described, may be placed nearer together than the ordinary coveringplate, and consequently more numbers can be placed on a dial of a given size than heretofore.

Claims.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A series of covering-plates, b, hinged to the dial D, and operated to expose the numbers thereon by the thrust of a series of rods, h, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. I also claim in combination with the dial D a sliding frame, H, provided with one or more notched bars, K, for throwing up or returning the plates b to a position to conceal the numbers, substantially as described.

3. I also claim the springs 15 for allowing the bars K to yield, for the purpose set forth.

4. I also claim a balanced covering-plate, I), provided with a weighted arm, (1, applied to a dial, D, and opera-tin g substantially as set forth.

5. I also claim a series of cranks, e f, operated by wires leading from the rooms, and so placed on a rocker-shaft connected with the mechanism for giving the alarm that each crank will rock the shaft independently of and without moving any other crank, substantially as described.

6. I also claim a rocker-shaft connected with the mechanism for giving the alarm, and operated by independent cranks, in combination with the rods h, which cause the covering-plates b to expose the numbers on the dial, substantially as described.

7. I also claim a removable dial, D, entirely detached from the mechanism which uncovers the numbers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

Witness my hand this 24th day of May, A. D. 1872.

CHARLES H. GREENLEAF.

In presence of- J. WHITELEY, N. W. STEARNS. 

